#sketch plugins

[metaficco]

Metafic's Best Sketch Plugins: Essential Plugins for Every Designer

Examine how incorporating the best plugins for Sketch will boost overall efficiency and improve your UI/UX design projects. Take a look!

[balrogballs]

queen of ai art <3

I genuinely have no idea what the fuck is in the tap water right now considering these all came in the last ten days from what I suppose are different people considering I blocked the first two… either that or it is one very persistent person or the collective actions of what I assume is probably the world’s most depressing groupchat. Incest anon, come back, I miss you on hindsight.

I don't normally answer mean-spirited questions but these pissed me off recently because of the nature of the accusations. So, let’s get into a long, illustrated lesson including a WIP gallery as to why you shouldn’t rely on “gotcha” AI logic and/or be a little twat, with tips on manual digital scaling, presented in classic Balls style.

Now, the vast majority of my art is traditional, many are quick ‘challenge’ sketches—they are drawn or painted on paper. With many of them, there are progress shots. Sometimes multiple, including fucking gemwork. Sometimes I do silly sketches. I have also been quite open that I’m really focusing on exploring varying styles of portraiture at the moment after an artistic background in watercolour landscapes. A number of you follow my traditional art blog where said landscapes were posted, and you know they’re banging.

Now, I’ve posted *checks notes* like five digital pieces last year from the time I owned a tablet (after which all my work has been trad due to being indefinitely parted from said tablet), and none of them are what you’d call professional quality, considering most of my work is traditional/realist and I am still not very good at stylised or digital drawing. I’ll choose my “best”/most detailed one for the purposes of this impromptu demonstration using the files I do have on me at the moment.

Due to my background in traditional art 👆🏻I always and without fail do my initial sketching by hand, because I find it difficult to get perspective and proportions correct digitally, because I learnt various pencil angling tricks etc… so anything I have drawn digitally that includes people/buildings, I’d do a sketch on paper and scan it, and do the lineart from there.

Here is the sketch, the sketch cleaned up into lineart, shaded values, and a portion of the colour-blocking stage, where I checked to make sure the major colours don’t clash at the borders, thanks to Thingol’s bright orange outfit from hell.

I assume what has been done here is that you or whatever program you’re using has picked up on the below little noisy bits, threads and spirals and decided they’re AI. Let me introduce you to the magic of textural overlays, aka texture stamps/brushes, which I get so impatient with that it becomes quite obvious they’re on there… which works in my favour right now lmao.

Here is me sliding the opacity on and off sections, so you can see what exactly is going on (pillar with marbled effect, thingol skin texture, elrond jacket texture, elrond's remarkable forehead, and the marbled archway):

These aren’t overlaid by my mystery robot sex toy, they are done by hand and there’s around 20-30 different ones in any given piece, some of them (eg skin texture or leaves) are repeated 10-15 times. Using texture brushes or stamps is not a cardinal sin, they are literally sold on this website by the artists who make them. Here is a clip of me just selecting them all in one go, if you’d like that proven for your face eyes as well.

I have no excuses for overblending my colours or leaving sections choppy, I’m just lazy to do painterly detail on stylised digital pieces, and usually just stop after a couple rounds of blending. But if laziness was a crime then most nation-states in this world would not have a functioning government.

Now, the final two stages—because the base for these images are usually scans or photos of my sketches and thus not exactly at the best of resolutions, I upscale in Lightroom. Amusingly, image upscaling is actually normally done by AI either built into Photoshop or plugins—this isn’t exactly generative AI, it’s more an algorithm that breaks down your existing photo and “reconstructs” it at a higher resolution. Hence, many upscaled images are flagged as AI regardless of the manner of upscaling.

I am too stingy to purchase Photoshop, the above plugins can/do use your art to train generative AI even if it doesn’t use it for your image, and I have Lightroom Classic already—upscaling is relatively easy to do here and does not train AI. Here’s a walkthrough:

Open Image > Denoise > Play with Slider > Save as TIFF > Open TIFF > Develop Module > Enhance > Save DNG. Then, work on DNG image re: adding noise/brightness/contrast whatever.

Just a note that the ‘Super Resolution’ feature does actually use (algorithmic, not generative) AI so don’t click on that, just do the normal Enhance. This will increase your image size and resolution without sacrificing detail. However, the file itself would be fucking enormous by this point so you can either compress it yourself or use Canva or whatever.

If you don’t mean those and instead mean these fucking things, jesus fucking christ they’re free graphic design templates with free Illustrator vectors, get a fucking grip, ten days in a charity comms job and you can make these in your sleep while moving the mouse with your pussy.

Here is a collage of some of my other digital works at various stages as well, including pencil/pen sketches, to help you sleep at night:

Please remember that I stopped posting digital art except one charcoal+digital work after I was parted from my tablet in December. If I was really iBalls, I would have continued churning them out surely 😇

Writing

I am not going to even take this seriously because there is clearly no way to explain the concept of writing something in advance to people who clearly type out and immediately send every half-dusted thought the moment it farts itself into their brain.

However, if you are actually sitting in your home in the year 2025, when there is almost definitely litter in your neighbourhood that needs picking and dogs on the Rover app that go unwalked, feeding my fucking writing into whatever fucking AI detector you have that is, in turn, training whatever fucking AI generator it is linked to, simply because of whatever robot you have created in your brain that somehow knows very niche facts about the lifestyle, dialect, speech patterns, culture and politics of a frankly irrelevant town in 1970s Kerala, I genuinely do not wish you a single moment of joy in your life

I have already or will soon be privating some of my artwork considering there are people cheerfully sat there feeding my work to Musk’s field of cows in order to get yourself a good old gotcha against some random Elrondfucker on the Internet — I’m obviously not going to do that to my writing at the moment but please stop letting your actions be driven by your asshole instead of your brain.

As for this one, I initially thought of not being so cocky in my response but considering I either get a version of this like once a month or some fucker goes to another person’s blog to ask them if I’m not tired of people kissing my ass, let me tell you something:

I am not whatever hockey-playing girlboss it was that was a bitch to you in high school and you are now afraid is intruding into your fandom space. She must have sucked I am certain. I am very sorry you had to deal with her. But I am not her. She is not me. I can assure you of this. If you must know, I was a netball girl. In fact, I was netball team captain. If it actually was me, I sincerely apologise for accidentally on purpose fouling you in 2014 because I wanted to win the intra-school friendly and I promise I won’t ever do it again.

And just in general, let me please remind you that I did not curate this audience through purposeful posting of art and literature and tasteful selfies, I did it via the 'Lindircident' post, aka accidentally holding my asshole wide open for the light to shine through two weeks after I made this account and remaining in the same doubled-up position for the six months since.

Tschüss! 🖕

[tvheadfalls]

Do you have any method you found regarding how to make assets/tiles in RPGmaker?? I had a few attempts at making a game but making them always made me quit. And you seem to be onto smth with sketching a room over a screenshot

yes!! im not touching tilesets they killed my family!!!! parallax is my new best friend. u can lit just Draw A Picture and use smth like the yanfly region restriction plugin to make them work as maps. guys u dont even need pixel art

https://youtu.be/mNwrFZdlW2E?si=PO5MdwjrmNwnZhsj

(jk tilesets absolutely have their uses for bigger maps or similar repeating environments. but, well. i am not doing thart)

i actually assembled a playlist for my friends so they dont have to sift thru all the battle mechanic tutorials etc if they ever wanna try. im still fiddling w it but if anyone else is interested!!

[unitedfrontvarietyhour]

Welcome to Commievision. Please make sure your deprogramming glasses are on, your solidarity plugin is enabled, and to watch to the end for the full experience.

Timestamps:

0:06 - TRTWorld Report: UNRWA faces withholding of funds from multiple UN member states (circa Jan 2024)

0:23 - "Just Another Precise, Surgical Strike on Hamas by Israel"

1:04 - "That's not morality, that's a PR exercise" Ben Kentish on LBC Explaining Where in Gaza is "Safe"

2:03 - "Yitzhak Shamir on Mastermind" Spitting Image sketch

2:52 - "Where's the Apartheid?" Farah Jad Schools Michael Rapaport on Israeli Apartheid

4:43 - "Every Accusation is a Confession"

4:56 - Israeli Tank Enters Rafah

5:18 - Noam Chomsky Destroys the Charge That "Antizionism is the New Antisemitism"

[jokkaproductionz]

**The Ultimate Guide to Producing Hip Hop Music: Hardware and Software Essentials**

As a hip hop producer, you’re about to embark on a journey to create the next big hit. To get started, familiarize yourself with the hardware and software tools used in the production process. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the essential hardware and software tools, as well as provide tips on how to combine them to produce high-quality hip hop and rap tracks.

---

### **1. Hardware Essentials**

**1.1 MPCs (Akai Pro MPC Series)**

The MPC (Music Production Center) is a legendary sampler and sequencer that has been a staple in hip hop production for decades. The Akai Pro MPC series, including models like the MPC X, MPC Live, and MPC One, offer a myriad of features such as sampling, sequencing, and effects processing. These devices allow producers to create intricate beats and seamlessly blend samples with original material. **Tip**: Experiment with different sampling techniques to find your unique sound.

**1.2 Groove Boxes (Korg Electribe, Roland SP-404, etc.)**

Groove boxes are compact and portable devices designed for creating beats, sequences, and samples on the go. Popular choices among hip hop producers include the Korg Electribe and Roland SP-404. These devices often come with built-in sounds and effects, making them perfect for live performances or quick jam sessions. **Tip**: Use groove boxes for sketching out ideas quickly when inspiration strikes.

**1.3 Drum Machines (Roland TR-808, TR-909, etc.)**

Drum machines are fundamental tools within hip hop production. The Roland TR-808 and TR-909 are iconic machines that have appeared in countless hit tracks. Their distinct sounds can give your beats that classic hip hop flavor. **Tip**: Layer different drum sounds and tweak their envelopes to create a punchier kick or snappier snare.

**1.4 Turntables and Vinyl**

Vinyl records and turntables remain an essential component of hip hop culture. Many producers use turntables to sample and scratch records, adding a unique rhythmic element to their tracks. **Tip**: Explore various genres of vinyl records for sampling; sometimes unexpected sounds can lead to unique beats.

**1.5 MIDI Controllers (Native Instruments Maschine, Novation Launchpad, etc.)**

MIDI controllers provide a hands-on approach to controlling virtual instruments and effects in your DAW. Devices like the Native Instruments Maschine and Novation Launchpad are popular among hip hop producers for their versatility. **Tip**: Utilize pads for finger drumming to capture a more organic feel in your beats.

---

### **2. Software Essentials**

**2.1 DAWs (Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, etc.)**

Your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is the heart of your production setup. Ableton Live, FL Studio, and Logic Pro are three of the most popular DAWs used in hip hop production. Each DAW has its strengths; for instance, Ableton Live is favored for its session view for live performances, while FL Studio is known for its intuitive interface and powerful step sequencer. **Tip**: Take advantage of the built-in tutorials and communities surrounding each DAW to enhance your workflow.

**2.2 Virtual Instruments (Native Instruments Kontakt, Serum, etc.)**

Virtual instruments provide an expansive palette of sounds for hip hop production. Software like Native Instruments Kontakt and Serum allows you to design and manipulate sounds, offering endless creative possibilities. **Tip**: Incorporate sound design techniques to craft unique sounds that set your tracks apart.

**2.3 Effects Plugins (iZotope Ozone, Waves, FabFilter, etc.)**

Adding effects and processing to your tracks is crucial for achieving a professional sound. Plugins from iZotope Ozone, Waves, and FabFilter offer tools for mixing and mastering your music. From EQs and compressors to reverb and delay, these plugins can help you shape your sound effectively. **Tip**: Use reference tracks to guide your mixing choices and ensure your sound fits within the genre.

---

### **3. Combining Hardware and Software**

The key to successful hip hop production lies in effectively combining your hardware and software. Here are some tips on how to do this:

- **Integration**: Connect your hardware instruments to your DAW via MIDI or audio interfaces for seamless interaction. This allows you to trigger sounds from your hardware while recording in the software.

- **Layering Sounds**: Utilize hardware samplers like the MPC to create base beats, and then enhance those beats using virtual instruments or effects within your DAW.

- **Live Performance**: Incorporate groove boxes or MIDI controllers during live performances to engage your audience and add spontaneity to your set. This can create a unique atmosphere and make each performance special.

- **Experimentation**: Don't be afraid to mix and match hardware and software. Use a MIDI keyboard to play samples from your MPC, or sample your virtual instruments on your groove box. The possibilities are endless.

---

By understanding and utilizing the right hardware and software tools, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate the world of hip hop music production. Remember, the most important aspect is to experiment, find your unique voice, and have fun while crafting your beats. Now go create your next big hit!

[vocalsynthbdays]

happy (late) birthday FL-chan(FL Studio) and yuzu(utau) !!!!! [mar 8]

(fl chan)

(yuzu)

fl-chan is the mascot of fl studio. she was released in 2008 with fl studio 8. fl studios creator Didier Dambrin posted about wanting a mascot for fl studio after seeing hatsune miku, which resulted in an illustrator called uruido working with him to create flchan. flchans voice comes from the "Child" vb in fl studios built in tts synthesizer plugin. she speaks in english. it is completely within her tos to port her to utau as a jinriki vb

yuzu is a japanese synth released on 30 sep 2023, though her character birthday is mar 8. she is a tasteloid utau, voiced by one "Bubble", and designed by a competition winner, tish(t_ish_). yuzus sketch was done by guillotama, and lineart by spectrabund. yuzus vb is private, however usts can be submitted on the tasteloid website for her.

also sorry this is late !!! when i said to expect more lates i meant it <///3

[colorico-art]

Resource - Digital Tool Assets

Okay, so I've jumped around with several programs to try out based on the needs I had at any given time. These are program specific assets and resources that I've come across while using testing out the various programs.

Sketchbook

I still use this program, though strictly while on-the-go (I use an Android tablet). I personally use it more for quick sketches and then carry them back onto my PC to render, but I know @kreature1827 uses the app and has done some incredible work within the app. The link provides free brush and texture assets.

The program does work across multiple platforms, however I am unsure if there are any sync features present.

Clip Studio Paint

I purchased this program some years ago and tried it out for a bit, and don't get me wrong: it's a really good program. The issue I personally have is that when I moved over to Linux, CSP has no functionality within the system (that, and the pricing model past V1 was not something I personally liked to get involved with). The CSP Asset store is accessible through the program, and includes a lot of brush, pattern, model, and stamp assets.

Since CSP moved into a subscription model, they've added the option to have the program sync with multiple devices.

Krita

This is my current program of choice, and it's also one of the programs I started out using when I looked into illustration work. I did drop it a couple of times, though the reasons were always surrounding the need for on-the-go use and resource management (before Krita 4, it demanded so much out of my laptop that I couldn't use it effectively). The link provided provides a ton of brushes, plugins, and tutorials.

Krita does have an Android app available for beta testing, however my reason from moving away from the mobile app was due to the odd interactions within the app (i.e. some of the tools, like Transform, don't behave properly and require multiple specific alterations to only get a half-decent result).

Medibang Paint

This is what I used whenever I got a tablet before I coming across Autodesk Sketchbook. It's a very robust program, but it does have a specific use for manga art work. You can make some custom brushes, however the program didn't particularly click with me or how I approach my art pieces (i.e. I didn't stick with it at all). The link provided gives program-specific tutorials on getting specific results, such as halftone screens and tool usage.

Medibang is excellent with the cross platform use (it's even better than CSP in that it's free with a simple account), and can be synced with almost any device or operating system. The program does feature ads, which I personally detest. But the ads aren't intrusive and they're mainly out of the way.

[calves]

if you don't mind sharing, what's yr process for recording yr music? i'm looking to record an album i'm going to burn on cd for some friends.

Hi and yes I would love to share!

For me it really depended on what instruments i had on hand. I don’t feed my guitar directly into my computer because 1) I can’t be bothered 2) im in favour of the ‘room sound’, I like that it sounds exactly like it was played in my bedroom because it was, so having a guitar and effects board/pedal with the tone I liked was important. I also got a bass specifically to record

So my gap was just drums -> I went on GarageBand and built the full drum line for the song (I say built but I also did use the genre drummers with the adjustable settings quite a lot, theyre good if you can configure them to what you want). Then export the rhythm track as .wav -> import into audacity (lol) (i say lol because audacity I think is generally agreed to be kind of shit for producing. More on this later. you should maybe get an FL studio crack instead) -> put guitar, vocs, bass on

The mic I use is a blue yeti USB mic which I’ve been overall pleased with. A good value for money, can recommend, probably easy to get secondhand (I used my friend’s and then my cousin’s). Guitar, voc, and bass tracks go on separately, so it helped for me to record a ‘sketch’, essentially a pre recording in time with the drum track, where I play guitar and sing, just so when I record the real guitar track I know where I am in the song. On the sketch either the vocals or the guitar will sound far off and faint but it’s enough to like orient yourself. Yknow.

Before you mix on audacity (if you’re using that) go and get the musefx/musehub plugins, musehub de-esser, reverb, eq, are all stuff I consistently use (this is mixing process though sorry im off track).

Guitar i use two tracks, preferably not duplicates of each other but you could do that if needed, panned far left and far right respectively for a full wraparound sound. (Effects: Compress, plate reverb). Recording set up wise I just put the mic on the ground far in front of my amp. Test a bit and then move the mic where you get the best results

Vocals go middle/no pan. I have no good advice for mixing vocals because im bad at it still . Bass pans to wherever your drums are, usually middle also but sometimes double tracked and like 10% right and left. But these aren’t hard and fast rules cause I break them sometimes depending on my whims and what sounds good unexpectedly. Recording and mixing has been a lot of trial and error mostly error but anything you record and make still feels valuable because you literally made something out of nothing. Godspeed

[felix-it]

Which tools every UIUX designer must master?

Gaining proficiency with the appropriate tools can greatly improve your workflow and design quality as a UI/UX designer. The following are some tools that any UI/UX designer has to know how to use:

1. Design Tools:

Figma: One of the most popular and versatile design tools today. It’s web-based, allowing real-time collaboration, and great for designing interfaces, creating prototypes, and sharing feedback.

Sketch: A vector-based design tool that's been the go-to for many UI designers. It's particularly useful for macOS users and has extensive plugins to extend its capabilities.

Adobe XD: Part of Adobe's Creative Cloud, this tool offers robust prototyping features along with design functionalities. It’s ideal for those already using other Adobe products like Photoshop or Illustrator.

2. Prototyping & Wireframing:

InVision: Great for creating interactive prototypes from static designs. It’s widely used for testing design ideas with stakeholders and users before development.

Balsamiq: A simple wireframing tool that helps you quickly sketch out low-fidelity designs. It’s great for initial brainstorming and wireframing ideas.

3. User Research & Testing:

UserTesting: A platform that allows you to get user feedback on your designs quickly by testing with real users.

Lookback: This tool enables live user testing and allows you to watch users interact with your designs, capturing their thoughts and reactions in real time.

Hotjar: Useful for heatmaps and recording user sessions to analyze how people interact with your live website or app.

4. Collaboration & Handoff Tools:

Zeplin: A tool that helps bridge the gap between design and development by providing detailed specs and assets to developers in an easy-to-follow format.

Abstract: A version control system for design files, Abstract is essential for teams working on large projects, helping manage and merge multiple design versions.

5. Illustration & Icon Design:

Adobe Illustrator: The industry standard for creating scalable vector illustrations and icons. If your design requires custom illustrations or complex vector work, mastering Illustrator is a must.

Affinity Designer: An alternative to Illustrator with many of the same capabilities, but with a one-time payment model instead of a subscription.

6. Typography & Color Tools:

FontBase: A robust font management tool that helps designers preview, organize, and activate fonts for their projects.

Coolors: A color scheme generator that helps designers create harmonious color palettes, which can be exported directly into your design software.

7. Project Management & Communication:

Trello: A simple project management tool that helps you organize your tasks, collaborate with team members, and track progress.

Slack: Essential for team communication, Slack integrates with many design tools and streamlines feedback, updates, and discussion.

[andmaybegayer]

Last Monday of the Week 2025-03-03

Accidentally really only did one thing this past week

Listening: I've been assembling a bunch of music videos so that I can have them on the TV when I just want some visual noise, which has involved watching a lot of music videos. I should really just make this playlist public but: Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai

Also this very cute music video for a cover of How Will I Know by Zee Machine who previously features on Tuesday Again.

Reading: Bad, mostly nothing. Picking at things and putting them down.

Watching: Also very little, half-watched Flow at canmom's animation night but it was both late and I was locked in on some CAD, so I really need to rewatch it sometime.

Making: Lots! Sewing and hemming then ripping and resewing the pillowcase, because I did a fucked bad job. It's going better now.

Also the ongoing saga of the lapboard which is now in a "ready for use, with caveats" state, which is to say that the ergonomics are not perfect and it needs a few tweaks, but it can be used as is. See that at #lapboard on the blog. It has been fun and has really pushed me to learn OnShape better than even the server case project, I'm much faster at it and much more comfortable with the interface now. Picking up some of the shortcuts more seriously and also learning where I can lean on the more advanced features like promoting entities into a sketch and making more convoluted references.

Playing: Literally nothing it's crazy.

Tools and Equipment: I have been using fish shell at work, which I don't think I've pitched it before. It's a very easy to use shell that comes with a lot of features very reliably out of the box, but I want to pitch specifically the fzf plugins for fish

These integrate some very fast fuzzy searchers on top of fish to make it very easy to, say, directly open a file that contains a specific line even in a huge codebase, or to locate a particular commit in a git repo, or just search your enormous command history for the right command without having to tab up and down all day. Well okay that last one is now built into fish but it used to.

Fish is really worth trying if you haven't, it isn't anything like any of the bourne compatible shells but it improves on them in a number of ways in the process.

[pixelizes]

How AI & Machine Learning Are Changing UI/UX Design

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing UI/UX design by making digital experiences more intelligent, adaptive, and user-centric. From personalized interfaces to automated design processes, AI is reshaping how designers create and enhance user experiences. In this blog, we explore the key ways AI and ML are transforming UI/UX design and what the future holds.

For more UI/UX trends and insights, visit Pixelizes Blog.

AI-Driven Personalization

One of the biggest changes AI has brought to UI/UX design is hyper-personalization. By analyzing user behavior, AI can tailor content, recommendations, and layouts to individual preferences, creating a more engaging experience.

How It Works:

AI analyzes user interactions, including clicks, time spent, and preferences.

Dynamic UI adjustments ensure users see what’s most relevant to them.

Personalized recommendations, like Netflix suggesting shows or e-commerce platforms curating product lists.

Smart Chatbots & Conversational UI

AI-powered chatbots have revolutionized customer interactions by offering real-time, intelligent responses. They enhance UX by providing 24/7 support, answering FAQs, and guiding users seamlessly through applications or websites.

Examples:

Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant.

AI chatbots in banking, e-commerce, and healthcare.

NLP-powered bots that understand user intent and sentiment.

Predictive UX: Anticipating User Needs

Predictive UX leverages ML algorithms to anticipate user actions before they happen, streamlining interactions and reducing friction.

Real-World Applications:

Smart search suggestions (e.g., Google, Amazon, Spotify).

AI-powered auto-fill forms that reduce typing effort.

Anticipatory design like Google Maps estimating destinations.

AI-Powered UI Design Automation

AI is streamlining design workflows by automating repetitive tasks, allowing designers to focus on creativity and innovation.

Key AI-Powered Tools:

Adobe Sensei: Automates image editing, tagging, and design suggestions.

Figma AI Plugins & Sketch: Generate elements based on user input.

UX Writing Assistants that enhance microcopy with NLP.

Voice & Gesture-Based Interactions

With AI advancements, voice and gesture control are becoming standard features in UI/UX design, offering more intuitive, hands-free interactions.

Examples:

Voice commands via Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa.

Gesture-based UI on smart TVs, AR/VR devices.

Facial recognition & biometric authentication for secure logins.

AI in Accessibility & Inclusive Design

AI is making digital products more accessible to users with disabilities by enabling assistive technologies and improving UX for all.

How AI Enhances Accessibility:

Voice-to-text and text-to-speech via Google Accessibility.

Alt-text generation for visually impaired users.

Automated color contrast adjustments for better readability.

Sentiment Analysis for Improved UX

AI-powered sentiment analysis tools track user emotions through feedback, reviews, and interactions, helping designers refine UX strategies.

Uses of Sentiment Analysis:

Detecting frustration points in customer feedback.

Optimizing UI elements based on emotional responses.

Enhancing A/B testing insights with AI-driven analytics.

Future of AI in UI/UX: What’s Next?

As AI and ML continue to evolve, UI/UX design will become more intuitive, adaptive, and human-centric. Future trends include:

AI-generated UI designs with minimal manual input.

Real-time, emotion-based UX adaptations.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) integrations for immersive experiences.

Final Thoughts

AI and ML are not replacing designers—they are empowering them to deliver smarter, faster, and more engaging experiences. As we move into a future dominated by intelligent interfaces, UI/UX designers must embrace AI-powered design methodologies to create more personalized, accessible, and user-friendly digital products.

Explore more at Pixelizes.com for cutting-edge design insights, AI tools, and UX trends.

[zpuaacapstone]

Update #3 (Part 1)

This'll be progress for the past week, since I went over Update #2 close to the 18th. I'm technically finished with the necessary elements to my Game Design Document. Any changes to it will be a result of edits. I've finished reading Jenny Harder's Creative Character Design for Games and Animation, which has helped greatly with the overall character design process and what I should be looking for when sketching.

Overall, since technically I'm the client and the briefing & character description is done, I'll do a style guide, the iterative sketching phase, the lineart + flat color and expressions, the color iterations, and the final render.

For the game section, the "sandbox" in RPG Maker MZ, where I've been inputting plugins to see what works and what didn't, has also been finished. These are the plugins I'll be including, as follows:

To summarize, the features are:

A title screen made of custom graphics.

A parallax mapping plugin.

"Gab windows" that are message windows where the player can move as they appear.

Sound effects for dialogue text (like in Undertale).

A plugin that allows for character bust images in dialogue.

Smoother game camera.

Weather effects.

A custom menu system excluding the program's default "Status" and "Equipment" features.

"Skills" assigned for each playable character on the map, to be coded with my common events.

A "Proximity Compass" that serves as a major navigational feature in the game.

I'll have to rethink some mechanics, but at least I have a slightly better grasp at how Javascript works.

Writing the narrative script has also begun, with the introductory cutscene as well as some character establishment having been typed out. It's currently on Google Docs, and I usually have a more screenwriting-related format since I took a course on screenwriting years ago.

Perhaps I'll put in edits while putting this dialogue into the game engine, and try to make it seem less stilted and full of information dumps. Some hurdles is that now that I have a better grasp at how long each task will be, I'll have to edit my Workback Plan accordingly. It's less than a week left of February, and I want to have at least 95% of what I wanted finished before March to be done, which is made harder by delays. At least by now, the pre-production is ending and the production phase has begun.

[shieldfoss]

Keyboard shortcuts

The keyboard shortcuts in actual use are clearly historically contingent and path dependent - there are no standards, which means there are no ways to avoid conflict - even if you want to!

That is - unless you know every shortcut for the operating system you are compiling for and the operating system doesn't add more shortcuts and no third party programs are installed that were unaware of your presence.

EDIT:

Post got Long, it's under a readmore now so it won't clutter your dash

But please do read it if you have software opinions.

---

Hardware thinks (shortcut) means A

Operating system thinks (shortcut) means B

Background service thinks (shortcut) means C

Browser thinks (shortcut) means D

Open browser tab thinks (shortcut) means E

---

Hot garbage!

In the interest of avoiding conflicting commands it would be great if people could agree on some standards.

I feel like, with [super] and [ctrl] and [alt] and [shift] and [Esc] and [space] and [Fn] - it ought to be possible to do some deconflicting here!

Since the operating system is in control of the keyboard, it can impose those standards unilaterally - it would be chaos during the transition but the future would be much better.

Except no! Inherently impossible!

Because the user will - once again - install third party software and even if we get excellent deconfliction between layers, if you install two different background services that both did their due diligence and ensured that the operating system didn't use ctrl+shift+q+w+g - it is functionally impossible for them to know about each other

Still, I want to sketch something.

NB: I've never used a Mac, maybe Steve Apple solved all of this decades ago for his platform, it seems like the kind of thing he would do. I'm gonna write like he didn't though.

The domain

I'm seeing two ways users interact with software - background/foreground - and two types of software they're interacting with - hosts and clients.

The terms are necessarily underspecified but think along the lines of

Background/Foreground

Is this shortcut supposed to consistently do the same thing every time I use it (for the OS or some background service) or might it do different things depending on which app I currently have focused?

This is muddled by the fact that the background modes have active modes e.g. if you have Nvidia Shadowplay running in the background, listening for input that tells it to turn on or off, you probably also have an Nvidia Shadowplay app that you can actively focus on.

In that case, the software is simply counted twice - it has a persistent background component and a separate component that might or might not be focused.

Host/Client

The difference between Host and Client is essentially whether the developer is responsible for intermediating with third party software. This is obviously recursive[1], I am going to pretend it isn't though.

Hardware

To the extent that your hardware sends messages to your operating system, those can be ignored for the purpose of this diagram. To the extent that your operating system sends messages to your hardware, the hardware can be treated like a persistent background service.

Scenario

You are writing code in an IDE.

Four pieces of software have five different uses for the key "e"

Your OS wants E to mean "Open default Email client."

Your Emoji Picker background service wants E to open the "Pick Emoji" dialog.

Your IDE is currently in focus and wants E to open the Project Explorer pane.

Your IDE has a plugin that format your current tab according to your Editorconfig file.

And finally: You just plain need the letter "e" in your source code.

Today: Any fucking thing might happen depending on how those different apps and plugins have their hotkeys set up.

But let us consider:

[super]+[e] opens the email client.

[super]+[shift]+[e] opens the emoji picker

[ctrl]+[e] opens the Project Explorer pane

[ctrl]+[shift]+[e] formats according the editorconfig

[e] inserts the letter "e" into the source code.

Enforcement between OS, Third party service and active client.

How do you prevent the emoji picker from squatting on [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] and fucking it all up? Especially if it is written by a third party who didn't get the memo?

Easy.

If you press [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] the emoji plugin never sees it. When the emoji picker event loop asks for new events, those WM_KEYDOWN events aren't on the list.

"How?"

From the perspective of the OS, there are three groups of software that may need to know about key events

First party background software (The OS and OS services)

Third party background software (like the Emoji picker)

Active focused client software (First or third party)

When you input a key sequence:

The OS reads through the keys:

If [super] is present, check for [shift]

If [shift] is present in the key sequence, the key events go into the Third Party pool. On receiving them, the Emoji Picker opens the Emoji dialog.

Else only [super] is present in the key sequence: The key events go into the OS private pool, where they are made available only to first party background services. The "default email" hook fires.

Else [super] is not present in the sequence: The key events go into the "focused client" pool, which is made available only to the single, currently active, focused client. They are read by the IDE.

Enforcement within active client

Write it correctly lmao

But it is just recursively the same problem! Please do the same thing!

When the IDE reads the key events out of the OS, it checks for the presence of [ctrl]

If [ctrl] is present, check for [shift].

If [shift] is present in the sequence, the key events go into the plugin pool. Upon receiving them, the formatter activates

Else only [ctrl] is present. The key event goes into the IDE's private pool. The IDE opens the Project Explorer pane.

Else [ctrl] is not present in this key sequence. The key events go into the active editor tab which inserts a single 'e' in the current file.

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Expanding the shortcut configuration space

"What about [alt]?" Is that button just irrelevant? [Esc]? [Fn]?

Nah, nah. You can do a bunch with all of them. They're fundamentally the same as the shift key here. Maybe the OS reserves for itself the space of all shortcuts like [super]+[letter/number] and [super]+[alt]+[letter/number], and every other shortcut that starts with [super] is available for third party background services. Maybe clients that support plugins (browsers that support sending key events into websites) reserve [ctrl] only and everything else is fair game. However it shakes out.

Really, this is too strict, too. The purpose of the exercise is not to hobble third party background services or third party plugins, it is more to reserve a space to ensure various things don't conflict. Insofar as it can be done without leading to conflicts, you can be much more lax than this.

The two issues that brought this on are both VSCode related, because VSCode has two shortcuts.

Well, it has a lot of shortcuts. But it has two specific shortcuts that I want to talk about: [ctrl]+[b] and [ctrl]+[shift]+[e].

In the Linux keymap (VSCode has three separate keymaps for windows/linux/mac) [ctrl]+[b] opens the side pane, and [ctrl]+[shift]+[e] opens the project explorer window.

Except not for me they don't.

I am writing this text in markdown, and I have a markdown plugin installed. Somewhat reasonably, the markdown plugin feels [ctrl]+[b] should bold the selected text (that is, insert ** on both sides of the text.) And VSCode gives priority to the plugin - when my active editing pane is on a markdown document, I cannot open/close the side pane.

And the fucking IBUS emoji picker is squatting on [ctrl]+[shift]+[e]. Across the whole OS! "Yeah no matter what you're doing, you're probably gonna need emoji so we're taking first claim on incredibly ergonomic real estate for an incredibly niche use case" who the fuck accepted that pull request into my distro?

And, like, is Microsoft going to change the default key bindings for VSCode on Linux because of that insane decision? No of course not.

Are they going to change their idiocy - just to stop inconveniencing Microsoft users? Yeah that is not how I am modeling the situation unfolding I must admit.

That sucks! Shit sucks! And the only good solution is for the OS to say "We are laying absolute claim to (this namespace) for OS and background services and we are giving third parties absolute claim to (that namespace).

Which they're not gonna do but I can waste a day writing about the perfect world I want to live in.

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[1] "My Mac hosts a VM running Linux hosting a VM running Windows running an open Browser with a tab with an open webapp with a user plugin."

[early-baltica]

Krita has a free plugin that provides the same functionality as Adobe Photoshop's Firefly AI.

The new tool has plenty of use cases and is a great example of generative AI being a helpful tool for designers and artists, not their replacement. I'm using it to fill in textures in sketches, adjust photos, generate palettes. No strings attached, no subscription needed. Just 10+ GB of Stable Diffusion data on your hard drive, for free, forever.

Download it from here. Don't pay unneeded, unethically priced subscriptions to a company who says "buying isn't owning" and then squeezes the last penny out of you for tools that you can get elsewhere for free.